I like low-to-the ground living as well as anyone in the thread, but live in a damp, coastal area where mildew is ever present. My five year old mattress --still on the floor-- is now laden with mildew. I can't stand it anymore and plan within the next 24 hours to become an adult and buy a low bed and some sort of "memory foam" mattress.
I have been looking at various options for months, including a tatami platform and the Leggero bed at DWR (am too impatient to navigate through stylish websites for the Cappelini bed and the Case bed reminds me of elementary school furniture.)
My questions are 1. How well generally do platform beds perform in allowing air circulation? (The Leggero bed appeals to me because ventilation appears to be built into the platform. Removable slats in my experience tend to slip and slide when making up the bed or engaging in other physical activity.) Or is it the fact that the bed is simply off the ground, rather than anything to do with a specific ventilation design? Does it matter what the distance is, i.e., is 13 inches better than 8? 2. How difficult is it to make up a platform bed? Seems like a lot of precision tucking involved. 3. Does the extended edge of a platform ever become so bothersome, e.g., constant bruised shins, that people who have owned a platform go back to an ordinary boxspring/frame?
Anyone have general advice on living with a tatami platform? I liked the idea primarily because it can stand alone as a piece of furniture, whether or not one uses it as a bed.
Finally, while looking at mattresses, the sales person told me that boxsprings are really no longer "discussed," that one now talks about a "base." I was so amused by this pretension I left the showroom, but have been left with a lingering doubt. Anyone out there that can shed light on the clerk's (excuse me, associate) distinction, please let me know.
uh
well first; its never good to put your matresses directly onto the floor, wherever you live. while sleeping every human transpirate, this transpiration got to vapored, if not possible, your matresses will become a nice place for mushrooms! I've got two beds, one with springs (bothe bed and upper matress have springs) and was told some years ago that it were very good matresses ('relyon' name says it all), my other bed and matress is one from ikea (a platform one with a foam matress without any springs). and personally i sleep better in my platform bed. But generally speeking specialists say you have to buy every 10 year a new matress. i am doing this every 5 year, being a bad sleeper i really feel the difference between a new and an old matress. i would say; trial and error...
On being a lazy neatfreak...
Precision tucking...Pelle that says it all with me and platform beds. For years I lusted after the Peter Maly bed but beyond the cost, I could never quite get my head around the time required to make the bed. I love a 'hotel' bed but I am just too lazy or too ADD to deal with the fussing. I am also severely allergic to mold/mildew. It's a big challenge to keep them out of a bedroom where all that fabric resides. So I'll tell you what works for me. I bought a very simple platform bed made from metal at Room & Board online. They don't carry it anymore but it's similar to the one they have now called "Platform". I liked the industrial look and the fact that it has a slatted base that can 'breathe' unlike other platforms that often have a solid base. It also has a small platform edge that allows the duvet to hang over it versus requiring all that tedious tucking. The duvet's the only other point to mention. We use a duvet (w/cover) and a fitted base sheet only. No blankets or top sheets. Everything is in white which I can bleach to avoid any nasty organisms growing. Bed looks good everyday and I have no more night-time breathing problems.
Bedding
Thanks for the Room and Board tip, a much overlooked company. I also looked at beds as recommended by others at Manhattan Loft (in Utah!). A few of them are possibilities, but most look like they're designed for a teenagers room. I liked the Rover table, however, that fits over the bed on wheels for $250-350.
Re: ease of bedding. I too use all white linens SOLELY for the bleachable factor {Oh designers out there, please understand how many of us use real bleach, the only product which kills germs and lifts stains). I jettisoned the top sheet long ago (why do they have them here? Europeans are always surprised we use a duvet and a sheet). Not long ago I got fed up stuffing my duvet into the washed cover once or twice a week and now use a padded.lighter weight quilt that I simply unfurl on my bed straight out of the dryer. For colder nights, I turn on my matress pad, which are now made with duel controls, NO lumps or cords poking through, and very low settings.
Check out Target for bedding; the Thomas O'Brien line of bedding has a modern window pane designed quilt in white, dark grey and other neutrals for under $100.00. All washable in a regular home washer/dryer. After spending a silly amount of $ over the years on designer bedding (e.g. $1,800 for a Calvin Klein duvet, $500 Frette pillow cases) which fell apart after less than a year of less than ordinary use, Target is the place for me.
IKEA bedding
try IKEA as well, I find that the quality is reasonable, durability is good and style is nice. And , as it's a european-based company, the duvet thing is understood and packaged accordingly. One thing that bugs me is how many US bedding stores/companies package their sheets in 'sets' so that I end up with the top sheet that I don't use. I turn them into duvet covers most by sewing two together. Last point to note, stuffing a quilt into a cover is a cinch if you start with the cover inside out and invert it over the quilt.
I have a platform bed and...
I have a platform bed and don't have any problems with whacking my shins against the bed. My mother, on the other hand, runs into the bed every time she visits. I did have a couple of bruises when I first got the bed, but now that I'm so used to the bed I can avoid hitting it while walking without even having to think about it.
Also, I don't find it that much more time consuming to make my platform bed than I did to make my regular bed. But then again, I have always tucked the sheets, blankets etc under the mattress when making the bed so there was really no change in how I actually made the bed. I persoanlly don't care for duvets or comforters. I've always opted for nice quilts that I tuck in.
I also have had no problems with anything like mildew. I currently have the West Elm platform bed which does have slats. Perhaps that has something to do with not having mildew because of increased ventilation, but then again, perhaps not. I really don't know.
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